Day 27, 28, 29 - Back in Wellington for the last lap

Sunday 1 May

I woke during the night with a sore throat, and by morning was not a happy child, although very grateful it had not descended on me earlier. I spent a very lazy day in bed, reading and sleeping, while Lloyd trotted around getting drinks and meals for me.

Monday 2 May

We had booked for the early-bird tour of the Gallipoli display at Te Papa before we left for the South Island, so were waiting in the foyer by 9.15.

 

What we got was a brief talk about the war and how we got involved with Gallipoli, then we were sent in to see the display ourselves. I possibly was affected by my cold, or weary from the whole trip, but did not think it was as good as the one at the Dominion War Museum. However it was worth seeing, and I was pleased I had done so. 

I was even more pleased to be back in our room afterwards, and gave up the idea of heading back to Archives for a final bit of research

I am glad I saw the exhibition. I found it to be informative, incredibly well laid out, the dioramas were excellent and were about 3 times life size and consequently very dramatic. 

Tuesday 3 May.

Feeling slightly better this morning, but Lloyd is now coming down with my cold, and we will both be pleased to get home.

Taxi arrived at the Hostel dead on time and it was a quick trip down to the Railway Station where we checked in and boarded our very comfortable home for the next 11 hours or so.

The train trip started in the rain – the first real rain we have seen since we left home. However it cleared to cloudy after the first hour or two, and Ruapehu stood out well.

The above was written while travelling and now I am giving a more relaxed version.

By the time we got to Palmy the rain had eased off and within the hour the weather was fine and we were able to enjoy the excellent scenery, especially the viaducts, and we could wonder at the incredible labour taken to build these things back in the day of no motors or mechanical tools.
All pick and shovel and hard, hard yacker

We reached Auckland about 7-00 pm. A shuttle took us to Britomart where we caught our local train to Panmure and trudged our way home.

We are both feeling sad, although it is so nice to come home, it has been a superb trip and we really did not want it to end.

We are now giving serious consideration to going back to the South Island in a couple of years. This time we would take the car and thus be able to spend more time in the many places which appealed to us plus be able to explore the ones we missed. Time will tell.